Utensil washing machine



June 17, 1.952 G. w. JOHNSON 2,600,541

UTENSIL WASHING MACHINE Filed Oct. 21, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 17, 1952 G. w. JoHNsoN 2,600,541

UTENSIL WASHING MACHINE Filed Oct. 2l, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 17, 1952 G. w. JOHNSON 2,600,541

UTENSIL WASHING MACHINE Filed oct. 21', 1946 4 Sheets-sheet s Wa/mag.

June 17, 1952 G. w. JoHNsoN 2,600,541

UTENSIL WASHING MACHINE Filed Oct. 21, 1946. 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENToR, krab/7 Mf//zfa/z.

Patented June 17, 1952 UTENSIL WASHING MACHINE Gordon W. Johnson, Baytown, Mo., assignor to Gordon Johnson Company, Kansas City, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application October 21, 1946, Serial No. 704,775

1 Claim.

This invention relates to new and useful irnprovements in utensil washing machines, and has particular reference to utensil washing machines wherein the utensils are carried through the machine on an endless conveyor line.

The principal object of the present invention is the provision of a washing machine wherein utensils placed on an endless conveyor line are carried through a washing cabinet wherein they are washed by a plurality of knife-edged sprays of hot washing fluid.

Another object is the provision of a means whereby the washed utensils may be sterilized by means of sprays of sterilizing fiuid.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a soaking cabinet for use in conjunction with said washing ca-binet, wherein dirt or other foreign matter encrusted on the utensils to be washed may be loosened by means of soaking with hot water.

Other objects are simplicity and economy of construction, ease of operation, and adaptability for use to wash a wide variety of utensils.

With these objects in View, as well as other objects which will appear during the course of the specification, reference will be had to the drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a utensil washing machine embodying the present invention, with the top panels of the washing cabinet, loading rack, and soaking cabinet removed.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on line II-II of Figure 1 with the loading rack cover partially broken away to show the conveyor line driving system.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken on line III-III of Figure 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken on line IV-IV of Figure l.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal section taken on line V-V of Figure 4, showing the method used in attaching the spray heads to the spray tubes.

It will be noted that the drawings illustrate incubator trays being washed lin the machine, being suspended from the conveyor on holding devices specially adapted to receive them. However, by the use of holding devices of various designs, many types of utensils may be supported for -washing in the nachine.

Like reference numerals apply to similar parts throughout the several views, and the numeral l applies to a rectangular tank, open at 'the top and having a bottom l2, sides I4, front I6, and back I8, said sides, front and back having an outwardly extending flange 26 at the upper edges thereof. Welded to the outer side of said tank at each of the four corners thereof is an inner leg 22. Slidably movable on each of said inner legs is an outer floor engaging leg 24,

which may be xed on said inner leg by meansof bolts 26, which pass through said inner and outer legs. The elevation of said tank above the floor may thus be adjusted.

Corner supports 28, rigidly fastened to said tank at each corner thereof by means of brackets 36 and bolts 32, and extending upwardly from said tank, carry at their upper ends a horizontal frame comprising side members 34 and transverse connecting members 36 extending between and rigidly fastened to said side members.

Supported by said corner supports and said horizontal frame is a washing cabinet 38, said cabinet being of rectangular box-like shape open at the bottom and having an outwardly extending flange 40 formed around the lower edge thereof, said flange being rigidly fastened to flange 20 of tank i6. The forward face of said washing cabinet is partially open, and comprises upper left front panel 42, lower left front panel 44 having an inwardly extending wide beveled flange 46, and upper right front panel 48. In place of a lower right front panel is a hinged access door 50, and hinged to the outer edge of said door is a splash guard 52, said splashl guard having wide beveled anges `54 formed at the forward and rear edges thereof.

A box type beam 56 comprising four angle irons 58 connected by horizontal connecting bars 60 and vertical connecting bars 62, is rigidly xed to transverse connecting members 36 at the mid-Points thereof, and suspended therebeneath by means of brackets 64. Said beam extends for-wardly from washing cabinet 36. Support rods 66, rigidly fixed to the upper surfacey of beam 56 by means of brackets 68 and extending outwardly from the sides thereof, support at their outer ends a conveyor rail l0, said rail consisting essentially of an endless loop of rod-4 like material.

A plurality of carrier members 'I2 are carried for movement along said rail by means of -a pair of concave rollers 14 carried for rotation by each of said carrier members. rollers of each of said carrier members are positioned on diametrically opposite sides of said conveyor rail, and thereby prevent said carrier member from leaving the rail in whatever direc-` tion force may be applied to it.

To the downwardly extending end of each of Said concave f said carrier members is attached a holding device for whatever utensil is to be washed. The drawings illustrate a holding device 18 adapted to carry an incubator tray 18.

Carrier members 12 are maintained in substantially equally spaced relationship on rail 18 by means of an endless chain 88 to which each of said carrier members is xed at a point intermediate rollers 14 and its lower end, and which is positioned substantially beneath rail 18. At the forward end of the loop thus formed, said chain is operatively engaged by sprocket 82, said sprocket being rigidly attached to shaft 88 carried for rotation in bearings 88 mounted in beam 58, as shown in Figure 3. At the rearward end of the loop formed by said chain, said chain is operatively engaged by sprocket 88 rigidly mounted on shaft 98 carried for rotation in bearings 92 mounted in beam 56 similarly to bearings 86.

To the upwardly extending end of shaft 84 is rigidly attached a sprocket 94, operatively connected by means of chain 9S with sprocket 9S rigidly attached to shaft |88 carried for rotation in bearings |62 rigidly mounted on beam 58 at a point rearward of the forward end of said beam. To the upwardly extended end of shaft is rigidly attached a pulley |94, operatively connected by means of belt |88 with pulley |88 mounted on the output shaft of gear reducer H8. Said gear reducer is directly connected with motor ||2 which is mounted on the upper surface of v beam 56 at a point forward of washing cabinet 38.

The portion of beam 55 extending forwardly from washing cabinet 38, and the conveyor drive system mounted thereon, are covered by loading rack cover H4,I which is rigidly attached to upper right front panel 48 and upper left front panel 42, and which extends forwardly therefrom. Two panels ||6 extending rearwardly from a point adjacent the forward end of beam 88 to the forward end of washing cabinet 3B, and fastened at their upper edges to beam 56 by means of brackets H8, serve to separate holding devices 16 suspended from opposite reaches of conveyor rail 18. At the rearward edges of said panels are -formed inwardly extending beveled anges |29, and the forward 4edges of said panelsare. joined byv a rounded nosepiece |22.

A drain pan |24 is firmly xed to the front lisci tank I0 at the upper. edge thereof and extends forwardly, having a rounded forward end, and is supported at a .point adjacent its forward end by afloor engaging leg |25 rigidly xed to the under side thereof.

A sterilizing spray chamber is formed by curved panel |26, which is attached at its lower edgetodrain pan |24 around the left front portion thereof.. The upper edge of said panel adjacent therearward end thereof is turned inwardly to form a top |26 for said chamber, said top being vfastened to loading rack cover I4. The rearward edge of said panel is turned inwardly to form a back |39 for said chamber, the inward edge of' said back being equipped with a rearwardly extending beveled flange |32. The forward up-V per corner of said panel is fastened to loading rack cover ||-4 by means of bracket |34.. The left forward portion of drain pan |24'is separated from the remainder of the pan by partition in order to form a separate drain pan for said sterilizing spray chamber.

A fire box |38 is rigidly fixed beneathV tank i0 and carries `therein a pluralityV of gas burners 4- |49 supported by brackets |42 rigidly fixed to the bottom of said fire box. Pipes |44 supplying gas to said burners extend outwardly from said fire box where each of said pipes is equipped with a mixing chamber |48, the outer ends of said pipes being connected with a common header |48 to which gas is supplied from any suitable source through hose |58.

A motor |52 resting on the floor beneath drain pan |24 is connected directly to pump |54. The intake pipe |58 of said pump is connected directly with tank |48 through the bottom i2 thereof. Vertical delivery pipe |58 of said pump is interconnected at its upper end with horizontal pipe |58 which extends into tank I8 through front I6 at the upper edge thereof, and which is connected at its inner end with vertical pipe |62. Said pipe is equipped with a valve |84 adjacent the upper 'end thereof, and is connected at its upper end with horizontal pipe |66 which extends beneath beam 56 and is suspended therefrom by U-bolts Hi8.

Interconnected with pipe |68 at a point out- Side of tank i8 is a pipe |18 extending transversely beneath drain pan |24 having a pressure gauge |12 connected at its left end, and being interconnected at a point adjacent its left end with vertical pipe |14 which extends upwardly adjacent the front left corner of washing cabinet 38. Said pipe is connected at its upper end with horizontal pipe |16 extending into said cabinet through front panel 42 and extending the length of said cabinet adjacent the left side thereof and having an angled extension |18 at its rearward end which extends partially across said cabinet adjacent the rearward end thereof. Pipes |16 and |18 are supported by a plurality of brackets |88 attached to the left side frame member 34, and pipe |16 is equipped at a point outside of and adjacent to washing cabinet 38 with a valve |82.l

The right end of pipe |18 is connected with a vertical pipe |84, extending upwardly adjacent the right front corner of washing cabinet 38, and having interconnected intermediate its ends a pipe |86 having a valve |88therein and connected at its opposite end with flexible hose |90, said hose carrying at its free end a manually operable nozzle |92. The upper end of pipe |84 is connected with horizontal pipe |94 extendinginto washing cabinet 38 throughy front panel 48 and extending the length of said cabinet adjacent4 the right side thereof and having an ang-led extension |96 at its rearward end which extendsmember 284 having a hole 268therein, is clamped to spray pipe 288, by U-bolt 288 so that hole 288 registers with, a hole 2|- provided in said spray pipe. A gasket 2 is provided between said body member and said pipe to prevent leakage. A deflecting plate 2 |2 integral withbcdy member 284 defiectswater passing through hole 206 into a thi-n divergent sheet adapted to wash utensils carried.

through said sheets of water by the conveyor system. I i

Motor 2|4, resting on the fioor beneath'ldrain pan |24, is directly connected to pump 2|6. Delivery pipe 2|8 of said pump isinterconnected at -its upper end with spray pipe'220, which extends upwardly in sterilizing spray chamber formed by panel |26, and is rigidly attached to the'back |30 of said chamber by means of bracket 222. Said spray pipe is provided with a plurality of spray-heads 202 attached toV said pipe at spaced intervals andV adapted to directfsprays of disinfecting uid against utensils carried through said chamber bythe conveyor system; 1 The portion of drain pan |24 isolated by partition |36 is connected by means of'pipe 224 with the intake of pump 2| 6. The remainder` of 'drain pan |24 communicates with tank |0 by means of drain pipe 226.

Interference of holding device 16 and the utensils carried thereby with the spray heads carried by central supply pipe |66 are prevented by a guard rail 228 in the form of an elongated loop, which is rigidly connected to spray pipes 200 depending from pipe |66, at a point adjacent the lower ends thereof, by means of brackets 230, as shown in Figure 4.

A soaking cabinet 232 rests on the floor adjacent the right front corner of washing cabinet 38, and has a door 234 in the forward side thereof. A vertical pipe 236, interconnected at its lower end with pipe and having a valve 238 intermediate its ends, is connected at its upper end with a spray pipe 240. -Said pipe extends into said cabinet adjacent the top thereof,`and extends therein around the four sides of said cabinet, as shown in Figure l, being supported by means of brackets 242 rigidly xed to the sides of said cabinet. A plurality of spray heads 202 are carried by said pipe at spaced intervals around said cabinet. A pair of channel irons 244 adjustably supported adjacent the floor of said cabinet by members 246 serve as tracks on which a cart carrying utensils to be soaked may be rolled into the cabinet through door 2.34.

The operation of the utensil washing machine is substantially as follows:

Water or other washing fluid contained in tank |0 is heated by gas burners |40. Water flows from said tank through pipe |56 to pump |54. Said pump, driven by motor |52, forces the water through pipes |58, |10, |14, |16, |62, |66, |84, |94 and 200 to spray heads 202 contained in washing cabinet 38. The volume of water supplied to said spray heads may be controlled by valves |64,'|82 and |98. Said pump, through pipes |58, |10, 236, and 240, also supplies heated washing fluid to spray heads 202 carried in soaking cabinet 232, the volume of said fluid being controlled by valve 238. Pump 2|6, driven by motor 2|4, receives sterilizing fluid from the portion of drain pan |24 isolated by partition |36 through pipe 224, and delivers it through pipes 2|8 and 220 to spray heads 202 contained in sterilizing spray chamber formed by panel |26.

If the incubator trays 18 or other utensils to be washed are so encrusted with dirt or other matter as to require soaking, they are placed on a suitable cart and the cart rolled into soaking cabinet 232 on tracks 244. When the dirt has been suciently loosened by the sprays of hot water from spray heads 202, said trays are removed from the soaking cabinet, and the operator may then rinse away any loosely clinging foreign matter'byrneans of a-stream of water- |04, sprocket'S', chain 96, and sprocketSM, causes sprocket-82 to turn, thus causing conveyor.y -chair-1- to advance'around sprocketsf82and 88.'l .Said

chain advances' carrier members 12 and holding devices 6along conveyorA rail :'lilon` rollers 14. .4

The operator, .standing to the right of drain pan |24, loads a tray 18 or other utensil onto each holding device 16 asfsaid holding device passes that point. The utensil is then carried into washing cabinet 38. Possibleca'tching ofmsaid.- tray or holding device on the edgesof splash guard 52, access door 50', or panel I6 is prevented by wide beveled Iianges 54 offs'aid splash guard, andv by beveled flange |20 of panel H6; After said tray and holding device has passed entirely inside of cabinet 38, the lower end of said tray is prevented from swinging inwardly and catching on spray heads 202 by means of guard rail 228. Said tray is then carried rearwardly along the right side of cabinet 38 and forwardly along the left side, passing at all times between opposing streams of water from spray heads 202. These streams may be of high pressure, and as previously described, have the form of thin sheets. A cutting or knife edge of water is thus formed which is very eiective for removing grease and encrusted foreign matterfrom the utensils being washed.

As trays being -washed leave cabinet 38, possible catching of said trays on the rearward edge of p-anel I6 or the edge of front panel 44 is prevented by beveled lange |20 of panel H6 and beveled ange 46 of front panel 44. What water did not drain from said trays while they were still in washing cabinet 38 then drains into drain pan |24, and from there passes through drain pipe 226 into tank l0. There the water is reheated and recirculated through pump |54 as described.

As tray 18 continues forward it enters the sterilizing spray chamber formed by panel |26 and is sprayed therein with sterilizing fluid from spray heads 202. Said iiuid, draining from the sterilized tray, falls into the portion of drain pan |24 isolated by partition |36, and from there it returns through pipe 224 to pump 2|6 and is recirculated.

As said tray is advanced past the forward end of panel |26, it is removed from holding device 16 by the operator, thus leaving said holding device free to receive another tray 18.

Features of the present invention are the long travel of the utensils in a comparatively small cabinet, obtained by forming the conveyor system in an elongated flat loop, the inclusion of both washing and sterilizing means in a single machine, and the provision of soaking and Washing cabinets using a common recirculating system of hot washing uid.

The improvements I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent are:

In a washer machine for rectangular pan-like utensils, a hollow, up-right cabinet; a continuous, horizontal conveyor chain mounted in the cabinet near the top thereof; an open top liquid receptacle in said cabinet spaced below the conveyor chain; a plurality of utensil supports mounted on the conveyor chain and depending therefrom above said receptacle; spray heads arranged within the cabinet for directing liquid against utensils carried by said supports and moved continuously by the conveyor chain;

f nr; rcimulatfng; liquid Kom tlm 129cv,..- tacle to said Spray hgad; megas for, hglding, the; mamme@ on tm supports; aA Qostqn inclined with-'respec to themer-,tlrnwamly wf: wand acentral; vertical man@ throughl me. cabi: net; :andigude means. substantially 01;,Sag vel:- tilcal plane for .limiting the extent; ofA moxemgnt, of said. uif-.ensils` toward said; vertiqa'l., plane.

GORDON W,. JoH-Nscm.

REFERENCES CITED The- 'folioygxjxg` references are ofl-jfx'ecord;` inv the me of this patent:

STATES PATENTS;

900,528 LMOFTQ- 1,212.11r7-1f 

